In the aftermath of 9/11-well let's say right after it- there was a huge difference in how people thought of me or treated me. That is, I guess, pretty obvious since they probably just learned of my existence and on top of that, My Muslim existence. All of a sudden, my hijab became a symbol that allowed others to hate or fear me.
So, I attended a public high school in Philly!
Philadelphia High School For Girls is its official name, Girls High for all those who like short cuts and abbreviations.
Yes, there were no guys except for the male teachers [do they classify as guys?]
In any case, after people realized who or what I was, I definitely made more friends and a few--very--few enemies (or shall I use the term haters?)
Ah, I remember a couple of days after 9/11 while discussing Islam and the Middle East in World History Class, someone made comments saying something of the sort that all Muslims should be bombed and killed (extremist much?).
Yah, that was a good memory.
I have to admit I did not get stares or whispers or eyes that followed me everywhere at school after a year had passed but...outside that safe haven and shelter, all was fair game.
I think I remember that I did not want to wear a hijab to school or outside because people used to ask stupid questions (maybe not to them, but to me they were).
Are you bald under that? Why are you hiding your head? What?
You got a bomb hidden underneath? (my sister got that remark from someone when she was in middle school)
WTH?
I mean I finally realized that high school students in a diverse a city as Philly did not know about other religions and could be so cruel and insensitive. Common courtesy or manners anyone? Ignorance... it's what we need to end.
Forgive me for all those expectations of understanding and acceptance.
I used to be oh so naive about the ways of this world.
Outside was much worse. Let's not get into that. Or maybe I do want to describe...just how "understanding and accepting" people are in this nation.
I love most of the ideals and theory that this country was formed upon. I just don't see them in reality.
I used to get asked about Osama a lot. I still do, actually.
Oh, they didn't know that he was of Saudi origin, all that mattered was that he was Muslim and I was, too.
Was he my uncle?
Did I know where he was hiding?
So my cousins and I formed a reply to stupid questions like that.
YEAH... Osama's in my back pocket.
Why don't you look find out for yourself?
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"Blend and stir, stir and blend
the part of humanity; sift the ingredients
of acknowledgment, apology, amendment, atonement
we gonna work with the four A's here
forever part
Common good is forever..."
Forever begins just because I thought about it- Common
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
I just skimmed this, but the first suspect that popped up on the news on 9/11 had the name of Hamza.
It's a very common Middle Eastern name, but This happens to be my last name. My dad is from Egypt.
Anyway, My dad is a realtor, and he wanted to change our last name. his business is a very name based one.
anyway, i dont know if it was something to be ashamed of or not.
and I can understand what and how your dad felt
and it's not that we should be ashamed because I have no connections whatsoever with the 9/11 plane pilots or whatever, except for that they were thought to be Muslim ( i mean they were but not really, that is not Islam), so what do I have to be ashamed of?
My identity? My religion?
NO- how about people not classify and assume that one person or couple of people's actions speak for the whole groups'
"Pride is concerned with who is right. Humility is concerned with what is right."
http://www.progressiveu.org/231615-this-is-a-muslim-girls-plight
yes. and we didnt change our name.
and my internet disconnected. so i will only rewrite one portion of it...
That osamas in my back pocket comeback is pretty funny.
but thanks for commenting
yeah, I was glad that we came up with that kind of comeback
wah, i got really sick of people and their ignorance, after a while
"Pride is concerned with who is right. Humility is concerned with what is right."
http://www.progressiveu.org/231615-this-is-a-muslim-girls-plight
If I were you I would say, " yeah I know where Osama is but I'm not going to rat out my family." I would hate to have people ask me those questions because you know they are acting silly. No one is that naive to ask you something like that! I hope someday that crap will end for you ! My best wishes to you and your family
It's good to know that there are ignorant people all around the world, not just where I live. What's even funnier is I was asked the same questions, with my favorite being "Is he your uncle?".....
.....Maybe if people would just think before they speak they wouldn't sound so stupid....
I mean so many muslims in this world and can Osama be uncle to everyone?
granted his family is HUGE. ENORMOUS and they have money, tons of it.
"Pride is concerned with who is right. Humility is concerned with what is right."
http://www.progressiveu.org/231615-this-is-a-muslim-girls-plight
I honestly don't understand some people. I perceive them to be smart and intelligent and fair, until they open their mouth and start talking.
I posted a blog (I dont know how to attach the link of my blog, sorry!) called Remembering 9/11 through an Arabic Girl's shoes, it pretty much summed up the ignorance in my high school, and when I read your post, a lot of the same things were said.
I honestly didn't think there were so many uneducated, ignorant people out there....I guess I was wrong.
If you don't mind me asking, where is your family from?
Pakistan...the people need some help over there, lol.
what about you?
"Pride is concerned with who is right. Humility is concerned with what is right."
http://www.progressiveu.org/231615-this-is-a-muslim-girls-plight
Palestine
I pray for men and women everywhere and especially in Ramadan
We need so much guidance
peace and understanding
I really just want all the bloodshed to end
"Pride is concerned with who is right. Humility is concerned with what is right."
http://www.progressiveu.org/231615-this-is-a-muslim-girls-plight
I am not sure how to embed the links in comments yet but I figured you might like people to be able to just click over there. So Here is your link to your blog:
http://www.progressiveu.org/142538-remembering-9-11-through-an-arabic-gi...
all truths are easy to understand once discovered; the point is to discover them ~galileo
To embed a link in a comment:
~a href="http://progressiveu.org/blog/fallon"~Fallon~/a~
Change the ~'s to < or > (both parts should be enclosed in the brackets from a href to the closing " and the /a in another set)
When changed that particular link comes across as:
Fallon
"Do not be too moral. You may cheat yourself out of much life. Aim above morality. Be not simply good; be good for something." Henry David Thoreau
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who knows why people would think hes your uncle
some people are just ignorant and think jsut because your muslim, they think you are a terrorist or you are at least related to one
...todays society is messed up
oh but i was young and i did have expectations of understanding (well, not high expectations but..)
thanks for commenting and we should try to make today's society less messed up...I know it seems like a fruitless and hopeless cause but you never know
one person can make a difference
"Pride is concerned with who is right. Humility is concerned with what is right."
http://www.progressiveu.org/231615-this-is-a-muslim-girls-plight
This story seems like something much more likely to happen in my small suburban Kansas hometown, not in a major metropolitan area.
However, I do admire your courage and perseverance through such a difficult situation, and I also admire the fact that you and your cousins could alleviate the situation at least a little with humor. It's a great healer.
Your story and those like it can also teach a lesson to closed-minded people in towns like mine who make rude, inappropriate comments and not realizing the people that they truly affect.
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Are Liberals Smarter Than Conservatives?
But I agree, we would think that it would not happen in a big city
and well you would be surprised
after moving to the northern suburbs of Philly, my family saw a lot of different tyoe of people
People who welcomed and accepted us
while others threw apples and eggs (not on halloween)
My cousin's wife who wears a simple head covering (not even a full hijab/burqah) got cursed at (FU get out of my store) in our local Rite Aid by one of the people employed there.
"Pride is concerned with who is right. Humility is concerned with what is right."
http://www.progressiveu.org/231615-this-is-a-muslim-girls-plight
with your post, it can be really frustrating. I don't mind explaining to someone about my hijab (scarf) if they're sincerely curious, but the ones who were just mocking, I learned to ignore. But eventually I came to realize that this is a great opportunity to educate people. For those are sincere (in my experience at UT there have been many) I'd imagine it's not easy to ask a question regarding someone's culture or religion for fear of sounding ignorant or offending them. So I worked on turning the negative aspects of it around and making it positive by educating people about myself and making it clear that no I'm not foreign, I'm born and raised here etc. (Just today, the bank teller asked me if I was an international student!) and that I practice my faith out of choice. I think that if Muslims in the US do this continually, (especially students) there is the chance that one person's view will be changed, and this makes it all worth it.
because of certain experiences and my own personal decision, I don't want to wear the hijab half heartedly which is why I am not wearing it (other than that I wear full sleeves and loose shirts (that is what I want to wear and I am comfortable in it) and pants and long skirts and do take a shawl or like a neck scarve from Pakistan most of the time)
If I start wearing it, I want it to be a full and life time commitment so I am learning and growing before I do that
and that is my goal, to wear it proudly and not feel like I ever have to remove it because of anyone or anything
"Pride is concerned with who is right. Humility is concerned with what is right."
http://www.progressiveu.org/231615-this-is-a-muslim-girls-plight
That comeback had me cracking up. 10 cookies for creativity!
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~Fallon~
"Do not be too moral. You may cheat yourself out of much life. Aim above morality. Be not simply good; be good for something." Henry David Thoreau
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in any case I was thinking of Osama because of some recent tape or something they said that they have of him
and then I don't know I got thinking because I read someone's post about suicide bombers (which is now deleted i think) and yeah, I thought back to Osama and how much that name has followed people who are Muslim, regardless of where they are from
and I have to say the FIRST time I got asked about him was in 1999, in 7th grade, my teacher asked me to pronounce his name and when I did it so accurately, everyone gave me this weird look.
"Pride is concerned with who is right. Humility is concerned with what is right."
http://www.progressiveu.org/231615-this-is-a-muslim-girls-plight
i keep reading your posts and every time you mention philly i mean to ask what part of philly you're from...
i go to drexel so i love in university city right now, on powelton ave! =)
--stacie
Drexel is cool (somewhat, can't say because I don't attend there but it seems like an good school from what i hear)
AH, i lived in Olney for about 7-8 years, that was quite near Girl's High and Central HS (have you heard of both?) Currently I am living in Lansdale but I often come to the city.
so how is drexel experience been thus far?
"Pride is concerned with who is right. Humility is concerned with what is right."
http://www.progressiveu.org/231615-this-is-a-muslim-girls-plight
i had a friend that went to central HS...
and i actually have a friend that goes to lasalle which is right near that area, yes?
drexel is phenomenal in terms of the faculty and a lot of the teaching methods...but their adminstration is full of a bunch of self-serving jerks, so i don't like that part about it. i like classes though. =)
--stacie
Next time they ask where's Osama ask, where's the evidence. The FBI own web site does not link Osama to 9/11:
Nothing mentioned here about September 11, 2001. Rex Tomb, the FBI's Chief of Investigative Publicity, is reported to have said, "...The FBI has no hard evidence connecting Bin Laden to 9/11." And Director Robert Muller admitted that even the identities of the alleged 19 hijackers are in doubt. Muckraker Report
If someone can show me the evidence, I'll take all the Osamas out of my pocket!
majority of the people do not know this and DO NOT CARE to know or find out about these sorts of matters
BUT i really appreciate your posting all this and that you took the time to read/skim the comments and blog
MOST people don't even know that Iraq (much less Osama) had NO connection with 9/11
edited to add-I have to say that Osama -might -not have had a direct connection but his philosophy and views most likely played a part in how this sort of cruel plan came about and was justified.
"Pride is concerned with who is right. Humility is concerned with what is right."
http://www.progressiveu.org/231615-this-is-a-muslim-girls-plight
people don't want to know! the truth is far more terrorizing; that our own government is capable of such atrocities. its easier to blame a boogyman hiding in the distant shadows than to confront a despot before your own eyes, oh say can you see... the land of the deceived and home of the depraved?
would actually clear away my name?
my name that has been dirtied just because of my being a Muslim and their Terrorists being Muslims?
NO, I am not afraid, I want the truth, this is for those who find it easier to live with themselves and sleep at night blaming someone of another religion even if they are not placing the blame on the right place.
read it if you wish, i wrote it just to let some of my emotions out on 9/11--
http://www.progressiveu.org/140651-to-america-and-us-government-a-questi...
"Pride is concerned with who is right. Humility is concerned with what is right."
http://www.progressiveu.org/231615-this-is-a-muslim-girls-plight
I don't think you should be blamed for it people have just become prejudice of anyone who is was or ever thought of being muslim and that's not the way to be. A lot of people are being hurt by the way people are acting towards them needless to say especially americans i can see why they would have these feelings but they should not be prejudice towards you all because all of you didn't do it
People are hilarious at times. I think you did a great job of turning ignorance into a sense of humor. I love your solution to those questions. Very cute.
I spent six days on a Greyhound bus. I don't recommend it. The co-passengers are fine by my standards. Its the Greyhound employees that are... the most apathetic, indifferent, unfriendly, rude, unhelpful, ok, just horrible.
Anyhow.
Twice on this same trip, two different passengers with arabic sounding names were singled out by the local Greyhound security, detained while all their belongs were searched, and asked inane and obviously paranoid questions.
On one instance, some black passengers actually made remarks after the greyhound security left that things never change, they tthemselves are still treated like that in some places in America, and that's just the tradition of America to treat people who aren't white in such manner.
It both saddened me and encouraged me. I was encouraged that these Americans and not any of the other passengers made any remarks whatsoever hostile, but instead, sought to make him more welcome and comfortable. I was saddened because it is an American tradition: xenophobia and racism.
It also showed me that racism comes from the top to the masses below. Not the other way around typically as people think it does. Under the banner of "security", "fighting crime", and "family values", racism and bigotry is made legal and "legitimate".
Citizen Press Revolution
How many Muslim families go to your school? I'm asking because I come from a college town and many international students attend my school but right now only 2 from Muslim families, a boy (one of my best friends) who was born and raised here and a girl who came here from Pakistan about 3 years ago...and then went back for a year, on her own, because she missed it so much. I thought that was the bravest thing I'd ever heard. She came back, though, because she's been gone too long and was too far behind in school.
I'm sorry people make rude comments about you--in my town most people are used to a Muslim presence because of the college, but kids still make fun of my friend, especially since he grew one of those mini-beards last year. I think it makes him look studiously handsome, but other people seem to think it makes him look like a terrorist.
CEM
thanks for asking...
but there are ton of people from all different countries who come to the city becaue there are many schools and colleges and univ. It just seems that people tend to be very irrational at times and say really stupid stuff that if they used their brain, would know how ridiculous it was (or maybe not)
I've have had Pakistani, Indian, Bengali, Mexican, Puerto Rican, White, Asian, Black, etc, of every religion friends,, you name it and philly has it but that does not mean it is a city where racial prejudice or discrimination does not occur every second/if not minute ( i don't know of a place that doesn't have it in one way or another) but I just wish people were willing to learn and educate themselves before opening their mouths and proving themsleves to be stupid/ignorant/intolerant.
"Pride is concerned with who is right. Humility is concerned with what is right."
http://www.progressiveu.org/231615-this-is-a-muslim-girls-plight
Yes, I wonder why people assume right away that people from the same country share similar bonds. Like many of Muslims in my schools got that kind of remarks from their classmates too. I had to say something like "Shut up" or "Leave them alone." It's like just because I'm Asian, they assume that I can know martial arts like Jackie Chan. I remember that some middle school kids would say some rude comments to store owners or any one who looks like Osama. I just had to walk away before I feel the need to punch them in the face. Violence is not the answer...I have to keep telling myself that. So, instead I use words that they have trouble thinking a comeback for. haha
Just thought I'd give you some humour to the whole checking every Muslim at security.
http://www.applegeeks.com/comics/viewcomic.php?issue=342
I actually believe the author is muslim..or the artist, can't keep 'em straight.
Oh and I love your comment about Osma. Usually when I start saying 'we' while talking to my friends their response it, "we? do you have a mouse in your back pocket?" I'm going to tell them "no, just osama". You are brilliant!
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Sarcasm is my body's natural response to stupidity.
Buying used books is wrong, it's like buying used underwear, it just shouldn't be done.-Me
I can't believe people could be that stupid. In Ames, (home of ISU and the Cyclones), there are people of many different cultures. At the elementary school I went to there, we learned about everybody's different holidays in third grade, and people told us about their religions and cultures, why they do different things, etc. I loved it, and don't know why other places don't do the same thing.
I didnt mean to give such a short answer, my computer froze and I just decided to turn it off for the rest of the night. My family is from Palestine, and I would agree that its pretty bad over there. And honestly you are 100% right when you say all of the bloodshed needs to just stop. It doesn't matter where its happening, all of it just needs to stop.
I remember when I was there in 1996 and 2000, it was this gorgeous, peaceful place, with no fighting, no bloodshed, no Israeli soldiers on every street corner. When I went back in 2002, it was completely different, and honestly it just wasnt the same. Its when all the intifada started. Honestly, I just wish things would be quiet again...
it leads to much of the violence that we see in this world
people go insane just trying to protect their rule or seat...whatever
we are living in a world where we have to be more powerful than the next person, we have to have more say, the biggest/best weapons/technology
because Peace and Understanding and Accepting are too hard to follow and live by
"Pride is concerned with who is right. Humility is concerned with what is right."
http://www.progressiveu.org/231615-this-is-a-muslim-girls-plight
This is the first thing I thought of when I saw your title and I could not help but wonder if there is a lot of Dr Suess in all of us.
I know that was way off topic but then again Dr suess was known for making fun of people for being stupid and bring it to their attention in an oh so imaginative creative way.
Your both genius's
I would have never thought to ask if the Osama was your unlcle. You can never underestimate the ignorance of city kids esspecially if they are from the public school system.
Diversity sometimes just means opoutunity to practice prejudice.
So Is he your uncle? LOL
~City kid from public school
all truths are easy to understand once discovered; the point is to discover them ~galileo
anyway, it is not the inner city kid from public school syndrome
it's the intolerance and ignorance syndrome that plagues schools and kids everywhere
PS i'm a city kid from the public school system of Philadelphia
and Osama is not my uncle unless somehow i don't know of all my relatives but yeah, we aren't related :)
"Pride is concerned with who is right. Humility is concerned with what is right."
http://www.progressiveu.org/231615-this-is-a-muslim-girls-plight
Wow, I just find it so odd that some people can be that irrational. I guess I have just always been in areas where people did not ask things like that. I know many of my friends were Muslim, but it never struck to me to ask stuff like that, and I never saw anyone else do something stupid like that. Nice way to put a humorous spin on the situation though!
A good personal and revealing anecdote. Some people have diarrhea of the mouth; I can't imagine anyone who thinks before they speak spouting off such discriminatory stupidity. Thanks for sharing.
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Gabriel
i love it
haha, i cracked up when i read it
thanks, laughter is the best medicine (sometimes it what we really need to make a horrible day, better)
"Pride is concerned with who is right. Humility is concerned with what is right."
http://www.progressiveu.org/231615-this-is-a-muslim-girls-plight
How about I have him on speed dial on my cell
you want his number?
sure!
PS NPR was talking about Osama's son and his wife who have divorced now but they were forced to divorce each other because of threats on their lives
here is the audio
http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_7000000/newsid_7003700/7003799.s...
"Pride is concerned with who is right. Humility is concerned with what is right."
http://www.progressiveu.org/231615-this-is-a-muslim-girls-plight
Some quotes that i took from this and admire
I love most of the ideals and theory that this country was formed upon. I just don't see them in reality.
all truths are easy to understand once discovered; the point is to discover them ~galileo
Pride is concerned with who is right. Humility is concerned with what is right
After pointing that out, let me say i am sorry you have had to endear such rude people, such ignorant people... and i really admire your courage to respond to them. I am just as confused as the next person on why people assume that all Muslims are bad... those kind of thoughts just tie into how people believe such comments about gays and other religions... when will people realize that we are different! it doesn't matter who created us... how we got here... the fact is DIVERSITY is what makes the world go round. How boring would it be to come to school everyday and be surrounded by people who thought exactly the same thing as you?
I will admit after 9/11 i was scared.. i shyed away from people *not just Muslims* but after a point.. i began to research different religions. i became curious about different people and different views.
I'm kind of straying off topic but i really looked up to your story and again i admire what you have to say and just never forget that in our generation people are typically *around here* beginning to become a little more understanding and no so judgemental and we can only hope that eventually there will be world peace and the family/distant relatives of your's left over in Pakastan/Palastine (sorry for spelling) will get the help they need/deserve very soon.
-jes-
Who has commented on this blog and understood how horrible it can make one feel to be talked and put into a category that one does not belong in-
I know that this kind of treatment has been endured by many people in the past and in much worse times too but it feels awful to hear these kinds of things from class mates you thought knew that just because one is Muslim, does not mean one is terrorist, supports Osama, Iraq, suicide bombings.
I got the comment from someone here on another blog that there comes "a time when one one needs to grow up and stop whining" about life, and all I had thought of was, I'm not even allowed to write about how the world has changed me and especially 9/11 and how i will forever have these memories.
I should say I learned a lot of good things too, that regardless of the few ignorant people, On the whole, most of the people in my HS, wanted to actually know the distinctions and know who and what I believed in--
IN the beginning, I can understand people being afraid and hesitant, but shouldn't everyone try to give someone else who is different-- a chance to explain what and how we are different and how we are not all the same-- like you said you did.
I never thought that all white people are racist, or that all blacks are criminals.
THank You--for such a nice and meaningful response--
At that time when I was young, I was really really emotional and I used to get really upset when these things happened but over time you sort of learn to become immunte to certain things and certain ignorant questions and comments.
"Pride is concerned with who is right. Humility is concerned with what is right."
http://www.progressiveu.org/231615-this-is-a-muslim-girls-plight
" "love em all,trust a few,and fear none"....thats wassup.one love. peace." mos def